2026 Honda CR-V

Honda is currently TrailSporting all the things, and the newest member of the club is the CR-V. The 2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport enters the scene as the compact SUV gets a refresh, and it adds some rugged good looks and mild off-road capability to the lineup. In general, we think this is a great addition to CR-V, but we did find a few puzzlers.  

WHAT'S NEW ON THE 2026 CR-V?  

The Honda CR-V was completely redesigned for the 2023 model year, so 2026 ushers in a significant refresh. The biggest changes will be in the realm of tech, but you do see some exterior styling changes with more aggressive 18-inch wheel designs and black window surrounds on the hybrid models. All-wheel-drive models get improved low-speed traction management. The Sport Touring trim (hybrid) also gets a new customizable "Individual" drive mode.  

As far as interior tech is concerned, all models get a new standard 9-inch infotainment screen as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a wireless phone charger. Additionally, a 10.2-inch driver information display, which is 46% larger, is now standard on EX-L, Sport L, TrailSport and Sport Touring Trims.  

The CR-V TrailSport joins the trim lineup with sporty black exterior accents, TrailSport badging and an exclusive Ash Green Pearl paint. The TrailSport trim also comes standard with AWD and all-terrain tires. It gets a unique front and rear fascia with a silver skid garnish, which is not to be confused with skid plates. The garnish is essentially extra cladding that will help protect against minor scuffs and kicked-up rocks, but there is no underbody protection. The interior gets orange accents, TrailSport badging, amber ambient lighting and all-season floor mats.  

It also has a hybrid powertrain.  

THE FIRST TRAILSPORT HYBRID  

The 2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport is the first time a hybrid has shown up in a TrailSport trim. Similar to the other hybrids in the CR-V lineup, the TrailSport is equipped with a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine paired with a two-motor hybrid system that delivers a total system output of 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque.  

It offers two ways to get regenerative braking: through pulling the gearshift lever down to the B range (below D), which automatically applies engine braking during deceleration; and through using the paddle shifters to engage engine braking each time you are slowing down.  

Estimated city/highway fuel economy for the CR-V TrailSport rings in at 38 and 33 MPG, respectively. We did more highway than city driving and found our fuel economy during the brief press drive hit about 35 MPG - which is in line with the estimated combined driving fuel economy.  

HOW THE 2026 HONDA CR-V TRAILSPORT DROVE  

First impressions of the 2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport are generally favorable. Even with the chunky all-terrain tires, we didn't find that a lot of noise transferred into the cabin. It handled well on highways and winding roads, and we think the hybrid powertrain in the CR-V is one of the best systems on the market. It has a seamless transition between gas and electric modes, and it doesn't have any weird jerks or lag under hard acceleration.  

It's also quiet. Yes, you'll hear the four-banger under hard acceleration, but at cruising speeds you'll hardly hear it. We played around with the different drive modes and definitely saw the difference between the Normal, Eco and Sport modes. We kept it in Eco most of the time for the fuel economy, but we could see a use case for Sport if you need better throttle response for more aggressive driving.  

We did some light trail runs during the press preview that included some steep declines, tight turns and a few washed-out grooves on the trail. The CR-V TrailSport handled it all quite well. It didn't lose its footing, and we even experience some wheel lift on a couple obstacles. Hill descent control works well and provides automatic braking when engaged, which helps you focus on steering.  

THE GOOD STUFF  

The powertrain on the 2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport is certainly one of the highlights, but beyond that, this new trim is packed with good stuff. It includes standard features like the 10.2-inch gauge cluster, heated seats, heated steering wheel, all-weather floor mats, power liftgate, premium yet durable cloth seats. Plus, wireless CarPlay and Auto are nice. The integration is well done, and I didn't notice any lag. The updated infotainment system gets an updated design and graphics, which means it no longer likes like tech from the early aughts.  

I love the interior and exterior styling, and the orange accents really pop with the black seating surfaces and exterior accents. That TrailSport-exclusive Ash Green Pearl paint is also a winner.  

While the base price for the TrailSport rings in at $40,045, including destination, and that might be a tough pill for some to swallow, I like the fact that it's essentially all-in pricing. You don't need any options, so you don't have any surprises at the dealership.  

A WIN FOR PETITE DRIVERS  

Another part of the good stuff is going to be the highly adjustable driving position. In addition to power lumbar support, the seat bottom tips up and down, which gives support and creates extra knee space as needed.  

Combined with the tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, the 2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport has an excellent driving position for petite drivers. I've noticed an uptick recently in awkward and cramped positions for people who need their seat in the far-forward position (example: Nissan Murano), but the CR-V is darn near perfect for someone who's closer to 5 feet tall.  

A FEW PAIN POINTS  

To be honest, there isn't much I didn't like about the 2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport, but there are a few things that could use improvement. One (surprise) is the wireless charger. While I didn't notice if it overheated my phone during our short drive, I had a hard time putting it and keeping it in the right place on the charger so that it actually charged. The other literal pain point is seat comfort. Both my drive partner and I thought the seats felt like you were sitting on cardboard. They were fine for the first hour of the drive but became increasingly uncomfortable as the day wore on. Not sure if they would "break in" the more it's driven, but if seat comfort is a priority for you, make sure you spend more than 10 minutes behind the wheel in your test drive.  

Not a pain point per se, but something we found interesting is that the 2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport does not offer a dedicated trail or off-road driving mode. Honda execs on hand said this was due to the kind of customers who would likely buy this trim: They want to be able to get to a campsite or trailhead but probably wouldn't be doing any serious off-roading. According to them, people who want to do more aggressive driving would upgrade to a Passport TrailSport. Personally, I think this is a missed opportunity to create a fun and capable SUV that could compete with the Baby Bronco.  

OUR TAKE ON THE 2026 HONDA CR-V TRAILSPORT  

The Honda CR-V is the best-selling compact SUV in America for a reason. It's really darn good. It's attractive and has comfortable ride and handling. And the hybrid powertrain gets a chef's kiss. Add in the rugged good looks of the new TrailSport trim, and I think we have a huge winner on our hands.  

Editor's note: Driving impressions in this "First Drive" review are from an invitation-only automaker launch event that allowed special access to the vehicle and executives. American Honda Motor Co. covered our accommodations, meals and transportation costs.